Beware, do not go there for birthdays!!!! This restaurant is super overpriced with bland food. We got the overpriced salmon and the dish was horrible. Then, they actually charged $3 a person for giving us a plate for cake, though they did not cut the cake. They put gratuity on a 5 top table, doing whatever they can scheme money off of you. Even complaining to the manager is not helpful as they do nothing though they admitted that the food wasn’t prepared correctly. Worst restaurant experience had in years.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jimin H.
The food was excellent here! It is definitely fine-dining with some asian fusion. I think it is great for a date night or a special occasion! Service was extremely good and our waiter was very attentive. They had an off menu fish dish the day I went and it was so delicious! I highly recommend asking what the specials for that day are!
Sondra Hines
My friends and I stopped by for appetizers and drinks. It was the best calamari I have ever had so far. We also ordered the crab cakes. Delicious. I can't remember our servers name, but he was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Ryan R
Enjoyed the night at taste kitchen. Great small menu for our dinner. Food was presented well but just didn't wow us for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Matthew Niedner
Outstanding venue for epicurean foodies. Interesting dishes, both novel and re-thought
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seasonedtrvlr
Amazing experience, celebrating our anniversary! From the food, to the cocktails to the service, all exceeded expectations. Parking garage nearby, but note that part of it was very tight fit for our Standard SUV.
Alex Hall
Taste Kitchen: An Exquisite Culinary Journey (with a Spicy Surprise!)Taste Kitchen was the crown jewel of our recent celebratory dinner in Ann Arbor. From the moment we stepped into the intimate, warm space, we knew we were in for a treat. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet inviting, perfect for a special occasion.The menu, as advertised, showcased a delightful rotation of seasonal dishes. While I had my heart set on the lamb chops, their absence presented an exciting opportunity to explore new territory. Our knowledgeable server guided us through the options, highlighting the freshest local ingredients and the chef's masterful pairings. We ultimately opted for a shared selection of starters and entrees, each bursting with flavor and beautifully presented.Now, let's talk about the wine. We indulged in a bottle that, yes, did push the budget, but it was undeniably worth it. It perfectly complemented the food and elevated the entire experience. It's important to note that Taste Kitchen caters to a refined palate, and the price point reflects that commitment to quality.But the true star of the show, the unexpected hero of the night, was the jalapeno drink for dessert. Don't let the name fool you – this wasn't a fiery gimmick. It was a masterfully crafted cocktail, a symphony of sweet, savory, and smoky notes that lingered on the palate long after the last sip. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal.While the missing lamb chops were a slight disappointment, it did lead us to discover other amazing dishes. And hey, that just gives us another reason to return! Taste Kitchen is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. It's a place where you can savor exquisite food, impeccable service, and a touch of delightful surprise. If you're looking for a truly special occasion spot in Ann Arbor, look no further. Just be prepared to treat yourself – and your taste buds.Highly recommended for: Special occasions, foodies, adventurous palates, those seeking an upscale dining experience.Note: Be prepared for potentially high prices, but the quality and experience justify the cost for a special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shaking Beef
Rob L.
Personally found the food to be underwhelming in terms of quality ingredients, flavor, and presentation. Portion size tends to be European (small) but with American prices. Service is perfunctory at best - knowledgeable on food preparation but not attentive to customer needs without direction.
Christine M.
My partner and I have been to Taste Kitchen on at least 3 other occasions and have always been so happy with the experience, but last evening unfortunately fell short. The restaurant was very busy and possibly they were short staffed, so I am definitely very understanding about our server being extremely rushed and not very attentive, but the food was disappointing last night. We started with the duck foie gras. It appeared cooked appropriately, and was presented in a custard type sauce...but was underwhelming in taste, and actually really difficult to eat due to the small serving dish with a runny custard and a generous portion of the protein. Fork? Spoon? Knife to cut in bite size pieces? Strange, but if there had been more taste to the mixture it would have helped, and to have maybe served it with some toast points would have been appreciated. I would not order this small plate again. I then had the hanger steak and my partner had the tuna nicoise. The tuna had a delicious taste and was cooked perfectly, but the entire dish was served cold and he was disappointed because it was such a cold night. It would be great as a summer dish, but not winter. I have had hanger steak at this establishment before and have loved it, but not this dish. The meat was cooked well, but the dish was served with both wilted and fresh lettuces, jalepenos, a very sour vinaigrette and 4 slices of a tasteless tomato. I am understanding to the perils of tomatoes in Michigan in the winter, but I was seriously hungry and wanted to eat them so I had to ask for some salt and pepper. I realize nicer restaurants look down on this, but simple remedy, flavor the food you are serving. I would not order this dish again. The jalepenos were given generously, but eating them disguised the taste of the remainder of the dish. No starches on either dish, or bread offered with the meal. I get it, you don't want to serve bread, but we left unsatisfied and joked that we needed to find a pizza by the slice place for home. We didn't, and this am I woke up hungry, hence this review! Also, we each ordered a drink and both were delicious but I'm a water person, and I drank mine and my partner's because no one came back to refill our glasses for the 2 hours we were there. Because of past experience I would try Taste Kitchen again, but if based on last night, doubtful.
Gigi A.
We went with a group of five for a work dinner. We decided to get a few appetizers to share. We ordered the crabcakes, calamari, beet, salad, the dumplings, and the salmon. They were all delicious and gave us a good taste of the appetizers at the restaurant. I ordered the salmon and risotto for dinner. The risotto was creamy, and it was the perfect texture. The salmon had a nice lemon grass coconut sauce, that was very tasty. You have the option of getting rice that is black with your dish if you like. The salmon was Thai inspired. The noise level was moderate so we could talk to one another. The servers were very attentive.
Usually an excellent experience, this time was very disappointing. Limited entree menu (favorite scallop dish not on the menu), filet mignon was pathetic - thin, covered in gravy! Incredibly disappointing for the price. Probably should've sent it back. Service slow and inattentive, although they were very busy with a full restaurant and the wait staff was stretched. We went there to celebrate my birthday, won't do that again!
Flipping T.
Visited last Saturday, I had the tuna nicoise and it was absolutely phenomenal, cooked to perfection. Service was great and friendly. The best in Ann Arbor no question, will definitely be coming back for that tuna.
Chris Sand
I'll start with the wait staff there is fantastic, no fault on their part.I'll end with: after 3 courses, which did taste good, I was still hungry due to the meager sized portions. I figure for $78 per person (pre-tip) I shouldn't have to hit a by the slice pizza place around the corner to fill up AFTER I have a meal here.Will probably not be back, and will be letting people know about the meager portions. Not sure what happened, they used to have much better sized portions.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
A2diner
Great service. Food not quite as good as we recalled. Calamari excellent but some of the salad it was presented on was frozen. Sushi grade scallops were wonderful. Menu needs a revamp from the COVID pull back. At one point they were the best restaurant in town. Would like to see them bring back Chilean Sea Bass.
Beware, do not go there for birthdays!!!! This restaurant is super overpriced with bland food. We got the overpriced salmon and the dish was horrible. Then, they actually charged $3 a person for giving us a plate for cake, though they did not cut the cake. They put gratuity on a 5 top table, doing whatever they can scheme money off of you. Even complaining to the manager is not helpful as they do nothing though they admitted that the food wasn’t prepared correctly. Worst restaurant experience had in years.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food was excellent here! It is definitely fine-dining with some asian fusion. I think it is great for a date night or a special occasion! Service was extremely good and our waiter was very attentive. They had an off menu fish dish the day I went and it was so delicious! I highly recommend asking what the specials for that day are!
My friends and I stopped by for appetizers and drinks. It was the best calamari I have ever had so far. We also ordered the crab cakes. Delicious. I can't remember our servers name, but he was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Enjoyed the night at taste kitchen. Great small menu for our dinner. Food was presented well but just didn't wow us for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Outstanding venue for epicurean foodies. Interesting dishes, both novel and re-thought
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience, celebrating our anniversary! From the food, to the cocktails to the service, all exceeded expectations. Parking garage nearby, but note that part of it was very tight fit for our Standard SUV.
Taste Kitchen: An Exquisite Culinary Journey (with a Spicy Surprise!)Taste Kitchen was the crown jewel of our recent celebratory dinner in Ann Arbor. From the moment we stepped into the intimate, warm space, we knew we were in for a treat. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet inviting, perfect for a special occasion.The menu, as advertised, showcased a delightful rotation of seasonal dishes. While I had my heart set on the lamb chops, their absence presented an exciting opportunity to explore new territory. Our knowledgeable server guided us through the options, highlighting the freshest local ingredients and the chef's masterful pairings. We ultimately opted for a shared selection of starters and entrees, each bursting with flavor and beautifully presented.Now, let's talk about the wine. We indulged in a bottle that, yes, did push the budget, but it was undeniably worth it. It perfectly complemented the food and elevated the entire experience. It's important to note that Taste Kitchen caters to a refined palate, and the price point reflects that commitment to quality.But the true star of the show, the unexpected hero of the night, was the jalapeno drink for dessert. Don't let the name fool you – this wasn't a fiery gimmick. It was a masterfully crafted cocktail, a symphony of sweet, savory, and smoky notes that lingered on the palate long after the last sip. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal.While the missing lamb chops were a slight disappointment, it did lead us to discover other amazing dishes. And hey, that just gives us another reason to return! Taste Kitchen is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. It's a place where you can savor exquisite food, impeccable service, and a touch of delightful surprise. If you're looking for a truly special occasion spot in Ann Arbor, look no further. Just be prepared to treat yourself – and your taste buds.Highly recommended for: Special occasions, foodies, adventurous palates, those seeking an upscale dining experience.Note: Be prepared for potentially high prices, but the quality and experience justify the cost for a special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shaking Beef
Personally found the food to be underwhelming in terms of quality ingredients, flavor, and presentation. Portion size tends to be European (small) but with American prices. Service is perfunctory at best - knowledgeable on food preparation but not attentive to customer needs without direction.
My partner and I have been to Taste Kitchen on at least 3 other occasions and have always been so happy with the experience, but last evening unfortunately fell short. The restaurant was very busy and possibly they were short staffed, so I am definitely very understanding about our server being extremely rushed and not very attentive, but the food was disappointing last night. We started with the duck foie gras. It appeared cooked appropriately, and was presented in a custard type sauce...but was underwhelming in taste, and actually really difficult to eat due to the small serving dish with a runny custard and a generous portion of the protein. Fork? Spoon? Knife to cut in bite size pieces? Strange, but if there had been more taste to the mixture it would have helped, and to have maybe served it with some toast points would have been appreciated. I would not order this small plate again. I then had the hanger steak and my partner had the tuna nicoise. The tuna had a delicious taste and was cooked perfectly, but the entire dish was served cold and he was disappointed because it was such a cold night. It would be great as a summer dish, but not winter. I have had hanger steak at this establishment before and have loved it, but not this dish. The meat was cooked well, but the dish was served with both wilted and fresh lettuces, jalepenos, a very sour vinaigrette and 4 slices of a tasteless tomato. I am understanding to the perils of tomatoes in Michigan in the winter, but I was seriously hungry and wanted to eat them so I had to ask for some salt and pepper. I realize nicer restaurants look down on this, but simple remedy, flavor the food you are serving. I would not order this dish again. The jalepenos were given generously, but eating them disguised the taste of the remainder of the dish. No starches on either dish, or bread offered with the meal. I get it, you don't want to serve bread, but we left unsatisfied and joked that we needed to find a pizza by the slice place for home. We didn't, and this am I woke up hungry, hence this review! Also, we each ordered a drink and both were delicious but I'm a water person, and I drank mine and my partner's because no one came back to refill our glasses for the 2 hours we were there. Because of past experience I would try Taste Kitchen again, but if based on last night, doubtful.
We went with a group of five for a work dinner. We decided to get a few appetizers to share. We ordered the crabcakes, calamari, beet, salad, the dumplings, and the salmon. They were all delicious and gave us a good taste of the appetizers at the restaurant. I ordered the salmon and risotto for dinner. The risotto was creamy, and it was the perfect texture. The salmon had a nice lemon grass coconut sauce, that was very tasty. You have the option of getting rice that is black with your dish if you like. The salmon was Thai inspired. The noise level was moderate so we could talk to one another. The servers were very attentive.
Restaurantji Recommends
Usually an excellent experience, this time was very disappointing. Limited entree menu (favorite scallop dish not on the menu), filet mignon was pathetic - thin, covered in gravy! Incredibly disappointing for the price. Probably should've sent it back. Service slow and inattentive, although they were very busy with a full restaurant and the wait staff was stretched. We went there to celebrate my birthday, won't do that again!
Visited last Saturday, I had the tuna nicoise and it was absolutely phenomenal, cooked to perfection. Service was great and friendly. The best in Ann Arbor no question, will definitely be coming back for that tuna.
I'll start with the wait staff there is fantastic, no fault on their part.I'll end with: after 3 courses, which did taste good, I was still hungry due to the meager sized portions. I figure for $78 per person (pre-tip) I shouldn't have to hit a by the slice pizza place around the corner to fill up AFTER I have a meal here.Will probably not be back, and will be letting people know about the meager portions. Not sure what happened, they used to have much better sized portions.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Great service. Food not quite as good as we recalled. Calamari excellent but some of the salad it was presented on was frozen. Sushi grade scallops were wonderful. Menu needs a revamp from the COVID pull back. At one point they were the best restaurant in town. Would like to see them bring back Chilean Sea Bass.
Great food and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5